RampageGood to see former UFC light heavyweight champ Rampage Jackson looking fit and happy at UFC 87 in Minneapolis. He spoke briefly at a press conference saying, “I feel fine. Everybody goes through a little something. But I’m good.” Jackson was arrested in early July in Costa Mesa, Calif., after at three-mile chase from police that began after he was involved in two freeway collisions and another crash after he allegedly ran red lights in his Ford pickup. He was later hospitalized for a mental health evaluation. UFC president Dana White said Jackson was suffering from severe dehydration at the time. “He was fasting and he wasn’t drinking and he wasn’t eating,” White said. “They took him for psychiatric evaluation for 72 hours and found out he had severe dehydration. But he’s healthy mentally and physically and will be back in the UFC soon.” Jackson still has to settle his legal issues stemming from the case.

Round 7:

The alliance between Golden Boy Promotions and U.S.A. Boxing should only help amateur boxing in this country, if not internationally. Some promoters are leery of the link, sensing Golden Boy just wants to position itself to pick off the best of the best amateur talent in the country, an advantage CEO Richard Schaefer didn’t deny. “Hopefully when some of that young talent turns pro we’ll have an opportunity to talk to them and we’ll be working with different managers to try to sign some of them,” Schaefer said. But the overall concept makes sense. Golden Boy wants to promote amateur boxing through high-level tournaments like an Oscar De La Hoya Invitational featuring top American and international fighters. There are also plans to hold amateur bouts the night before professional bouts promoted by Golden Boy. The company will also devote several pages of Ring Magazine, which it owns, to cover amateur boxing. There are also sponsorship synergies that can be utilized between Golden Boy and U.S.A. Boxing. Hey, it can’t hurt.

Round 8:

I don’t like to pick fights until the week of the bout when I see what the fighters look like and hear what they have to say. That’s why I picked Margarito by TKO over Cotto. He looked too big and too determined. But for some reason I’m already liking Paulie Malignaggi over Ricky Hatton and the fight isn’t until November. Paulie won’t win by KO, but he can frustrate Hatton. I reserve the right to change my mind if Paulie seems spooked by the spotlight, but I doubt it.

Round 9:

Let’s see if I’ve got this straight: Oscar is still trying to find a Dec. 6 opponent; old-man (all say that with all due respect) Hopkins is fighting Kelly Pavlik in a bout Pavlik’s promoter isn’t excited about; Shane Mosley against Ricardo Mayorga; and Antonio Margarito is on the back burner. Yeah, that all makes sense.

Round 10:

I’ve got to give it to Teddy Atlas and Bob Papa. They’re doing an excellent job calling the Olympic boxing. Atlas bring new insight to each bout and Papa, my buddy since back in the day when he was just cutting his teeth with the Giants, seems more comfortable at this than when he works the HBO fights. Could it be the company he’s keeping?